Mayor Byron W. Brown stated, “The COVID-19 global health pandemic has touched everyone in some way, including our pets, who for many, are a constant source of comfort.”

BUFFALO, N.Y. (PRWEB)
December 22, 2020

The employees of Utilant, an InsurTech leader providing the industry’s best-in-class cloud-based Survey Management SaaS Product Suite for Loss Control and Premium Audit surveys, have helped to drive a large holiday donation to Friends of the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter in memory of their beloved office pet.

“Chase” Davis, the Pit Bull mix adopted 12 years ago from the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter by Patrick and Jill Davis of Grand Island, NY, has been the catalyst for a GoFundMe effort set up in Chase‘s memory. Chase lost his battle with brain cancer during the week of Thanksgiving 2020.

“Losing Chase last month motivated my wife, Jill, and I to determine the best way to honor his memory,” said Patrick Davis, CEO at Utilant. “Chase came into the Utilant office with me almost every day for the past 11 years, contributing to our company culture with his welcoming personality and fun-loving spirit.”

At a time when shelters, rescues, and breeders nationally have reported increased demands due to American’s seeking the comfort of a pet during the pandemic, the Davis’ have taken the opportunity to allow those impacted by the loss of Chase to remember him in a meaningful way.

Mayor Byron W. Brown stated, “The COVID-19 global health pandemic has touched everyone in some way, including our pets, who for many, are a constant source of comfort. I thank Utilant CEO Patrick Davis and his wife, Jill, as well as Utilant employees, for honoring the memory of their beloved “Chase” by raising over $15,000 to date for the Friends of the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter.”

Raising support for the Friends of the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter will enable the financial support of the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter and its services to the Buffalo community and neighboring areas.

To date, the GoFundMe effort honoring Chase has raised over $15,000 since it launched on December 9. The Davis’ and Utilant’s employees have given over 75% of the money, with the remaining support coming from friends and family. The Davis’ have matched all donations both internal and external to the company to date, and have committed to a continued 100% match until a sum of $20K in total donations is reached. Donations will be accepted through December 25, 2020, however donation matching will stop when $20K has been reached.

“The Friends of the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter is an all-volunteer organization whose primary mission is to raise funds and provide financial support for the Shelter through critical and preventative veterinary care, training for Shelter dogs in need, and management of the volunteer and foster care programs,” said Jill Re, Board member.

To donate to this effort please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/chase-davis-fundraiser-for-the-city-animal-shelter

This fundraiser is intended to support any of the following programs run by Friends of the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter: 

• 
  Medical Fund – This is the general medical fund that pays for all the needs of the animals above and beyond basic medical care. Sometimes there are several traumas coming through the door in just one day, and the shelter needs additional funding to pay for it. We’re proud to say we’ve never had to say no to funding one of these emergencies. 
• Special Paws and Silver Whiskers - This program benefits animals that have lifelong medical needs or are seniors but still deserve to be adopted. Reduced or waived adoption fees are provided and often pay for a short period of the animal’s needs after adoption to get their family started.  
• Train-A-Bull – Every animal deserves a chance to be adopted, and some pets need more work than others. If a dog needs additional work, they work with reputable local trainers to give that animal everything it needs to succeed, including a formed committee of dedicated volunteers. This ensures that these select volunteers train the same way and continue the work each day. 
• Adoption Vehicle Fund - This is a fund dedicated to purchasing a new adoption wagon for taking dogs and cats to adoption events all around WNY. 

About Friends of the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter

Friends of the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter (Friends of CBAS) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 2010 and is comprised entirely of Shelter volunteers. The primary mission of Friends of CBAS is to raise funds and financially support the shelter, including critical and preventive veterinary care, subsidized adoption rates for senior and special needs animals, and training for shelter dogs in need.

Friends of CBAS also provides support directly to the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter in the areas of pet foster care, hospice and palliative care, management of the volunteer program, promotion of adoption of shelter dogs, and community outreach and education. For more information visit https://friendsofcbas.org/.

About Utilant and Loss Control 360

Utilant is an InsurTech leader providing the industry’s best-in-class Survey Management SaaS Product Suite for Loss Control and Premium Audit surveys. Utilant’s Loss Control 360 platform drives predictive risk insights with intelligent loss control solutions for Property & Casualty Insurance Carriers and Top Risk Engineering Companies. The Loss Control 360 platform leverages the world’s largest repository of survey data, coupled with a suite of work-flow tools designed to inform smarter underwriting decisions. A typical implementation provides positive ROI within the first year. For more information visit http://www.losscontrol360.com.

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“A burst pipe, especially in freezing weather, is something no homeowner wants to deal with. Following a maintenance plan for winter can help protect those pipes – and your home – and can help prevent damage that would require an insurance claim.”

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB)
December 22, 2020

It’s winter! Temperatures are approaching freezing and chances are, you’ve already spent time weather-proofing your home in preparation for the first major freeze. You installed a storm door, sealed gaps along doors and window frames and you even added extra insulation to cut down on energy costs. One household item to double check is are the pipes in and around your home protected. Frozen pipes are a wintertime nightmare for homeowners, and they can burst without warning, leading to sudden flooding and damage throughout the home.

“One of the best ways to winter-proof your home is through regular, seasonal maintenance and upkeep,” said Christopher O’Rourke, Mercury Insurance vice president of property claims. “A burst pipe, especially in freezing weather, is something no homeowner wants to deal with. Following a maintenance plan for winter can help protect those pipes – and your home – and can help prevent damage that would require an insurance claim.”

O’Rourke recommends the following basic maintenance tips to help keep your pipes from freezing.

• Locate and seal cracks or openings in walls, attic or basement.
• Install weather stripping or caulk around doors and windows.
• Repair broken windows or door thresholds.
• Close foundation vents.
• Ensure that there is proper insulation around your home, especially where pipes are located.
• Insulate any unprotected pipes (using pipe sleeves can streamline the process) and avoid any cracks in the insulation.
• Use appropriate thermostat-controlled heat cables to further protect your pipes.
• Locate where the main water shutoff is and know how to operate it, in case of an emergency.
• Disconnect hoses from exterior faucets and completely drain them of water.
• If the exterior faucets have cut-off valves, close them and drain the faucets. Remember to wrap them in towels or socks for added insulation.
• Maintain thermostat temperature above 55 degrees if you’ll be away from home for several days.

When freezing temperatures might have caught you off guard, take these specific steps in the event you need to unfreeze your pipes.

• First, open the faucet that the pipe is connected to. This will relieve pressure within the pipe and allow any remaining water to flow through.
• Once the pipe is clear, you can apply heat to the frozen pipe using a heat gun or hair dryer. It will be easier to start warming the pipe near the faucet then working towards the coldest section of the pipe.
• If accessing the pipe is difficult, hire a plumber for assistance.

Contact your claims representative to determine how your homeowners insurance policy can help in the event of damage resulting from frozen pipes. Mercury’s claims hotline is available 24/7 at (800) 503-3724 and your claims representative will help guide you throughout the entire claims process. Be sure to provide your claims representative with the photos and videos you took of the damage to your home.

Note: This article was originally published on Mercury Insurance’s blog.

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“Everyone wants to obtain the car insurance they need at affordable prices. Luckily, there are many clever methods that can help drivers to obtain better insurance deals”, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB)
December 22, 2020

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that explains how drivers can obtain affordable car insurance.

For more information and free online car insurance quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/how-to-get-really-affordable-car-insurance/

Saving money on car insurance should be a top priority for any driver. There are many methods that can help drivers lower the costs of car insurance.

The most common methods that are proven to help drivers save money on car insurance are the following:

• 
  Choose a safe car. The safety of a vehicle can influence the insurance costs. Insurance companies use different statistics and data to determine how safe is a vehicle. Drivers who own vehicles that are more likely to be involved in crashes or are more likely to be stolen will have to pay more on car insurance premiums. Drivers can improve the safety of their vehicles by installing approved aftermarket safety devices.
• Maintain a clean driving record. Drivers who manage to stay away from traffic violations will keep the insurance costs under control. Also, drivers who manage to keep their driving records clean for several years will be able to access several discounts.
• Join a defensive driving course. Defensive driving courses can help policyholders become better drivers by improving and learning new driving skills that can help them avoid car accidents. Also, graduating an approved defensive driving course can help drivers save money on insurance. Car insurance companies are usually offering a discount that is between 5% to 10% to those drivers who manage to graduate.
• Pay the whole policy at once. Insurers will charge a monthly fee for processing multiple payments and updating the account of a driver who pays monthly insurance rates. Drivers who pay the premiums in one lump sum will eliminate those payment processing needs. By doing so, drivers will save money on car insurance.

•Shop around. The best method used by drivers to pay lower car insurance rates is to shop around and look for better insurance deals. Getting online car insurance quotes every six months is important for drivers who want to check if they are still paying competitive insurance rates.

For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

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Utilant’s Loss Control 360 with Self-Survey will enable our ability to get virtual survey data on risks we are unable to access in person, said Larry Conner, Loss Control Manager at Celina Insurance Group.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (PRWEB)
December 22, 2020

Utilant, an InsurTech leader providing the industry’s best-in-class cloud-based Survey Management SaaS Product Suite for Loss Control and Premium Audit surveys, signed on Celina Insurance Group to the Loss Control 360 platform to manage loss control and enable virtual data collection through self-survey.

Celina Insurance Group provides high-quality auto, home, business, and farm insurance coverages in Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Recent circumstances due to COVID have caused Celina increased complexities in gaining in-person access to survey new business. Bio-security concerns and compliance protocols were often obstacles in addressing their customer’s coverage needs.

Celina is anticipating the positive impact Loss Control 360 will have on their entire survey process to streamline survey ordering and survey completion for their staff and vendor partners, as well as improve efficiency in both their loss control and underwriting workflows.

“Celina analyzed the market for a solution provider to support its Loss Control strategy,” said Larry Conner, Loss Control Manager at Celina Insurance Group. “Utilant’s Loss Control 360 with Self-Survey will enable our ability to get virtual survey data on risks we are unable to access in person. Our Loss Control group will be able to make smarter and more efficient underwriting decisions with the full coverage that Loss Control 360 supports.”

The Utilant Loss Control 360 platform integrates artificial intelligence, machine learning, data, and analytics into all aspects of loss control. The resulting insight into a risk allows Loss Control 360 to automatically suggest survey types to loss control personnel such as data only surveys, self-surveys, guided surveys, and onsite surveys. Loss Control 360’s automation model triggers an intelligent workflow based on criteria such as risk score, loss control, and claims data to transform the basis for underwriting, preventing future loss, and driving deeper insight into the insurance carriers’ business portfolio.

“Utilant’s Loss Control 360 enables our customers to reduce their losses and improve performance,” said Rob Mikulec, CRO at Utilant. “It’s our mission to stay a step ahead of emerging technologies that push the boundaries of what’s possible in loss control, providing unrivaled efficiency and insight to our customers.”

About Utilant and Loss Control 360

Utilant is an InsurTech leader providing the industry’s best-in-class Survey Management SaaS Product Suite for Loss Control and Premium Audit surveys. Utilant’s Loss Control 360 platform drives predictive risk insights with intelligent loss control solutions for Property & Casualty Insurance Carriers and Top Risk Engineering Companies. The Loss Control 360 platform leverages the world’s largest repository of survey data, coupled with a suite of work-flow tools designed to inform smarter underwriting decisions. A typical implementation provides positive ROI within the first year. For more information visit http://www.losscontrol360.com.

About Celina Insurance Group

Founded in 1914, Celina Insurance Group is a family of four mutual property and casualty insurance companies underwriting auto, home, business and farm coverages. Celina Insurance Group is represented by approximately 500 independent agents across six Midwestern states. For more information visit https://www.celinainsurance.com/.

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“We are growing in many ways, including through the addition of specialized experts across our business,” said Doug Hammond, chairman and CEO of NFP.

NEW YORK (PRWEB)
December 22, 2020

NFP, a leading insurance broker and consultant providing corporate employee benefits, property and casualty (P&C), retirement, and individual solutions, announced that it has welcomed more than 500 professionals to the company in 2020. NFP remains focused on building teams of experts across business lines, adding leaders with the market focus to help companies in a variety of industries navigate complex risks. As a result, NFP’s current and future clients have the opportunity to address a wide variety of insurance needs through one integrated and collaborative organization.

Additions to NFP’s team in 2020 include:

• Akhil Chopra, managing director, Cyber Liability Practice leader
• Elissa Doroff, managing director, Cyber technical leader
• Jonathan Franznick, senior vice president, Management and Professional Liability, Head of Claims Advocacy
• Lauren Kim, senior vice president, Financial Institutions Group
• Patrick Lundy, senior vice president, Manufacturing and Real Estate, Canada
• Andrew Pendergast, senior vice president, Special Purpose Acquisitions Company and General Partnership Liability Practice leader
• Charles Sternberg, senior vice president, M&A Risk Solutions, Core Property Casualty leader
• Tyson Stevenson, managing director, West region Sales leader
• Tracy Stopford, managing director, co-leader of the Risk & Insurance Strategy Collective
• Bryan Tackett, vice president, Financial Institutions Group
• Kara Tencellent, managing director, co-leader of the Risk & Insurance Strategy Collective
• Peter Veillette, vice president, Financial Institutions Group
• H. David Wood, managing director, Southwest offices

“We are growing in many ways, including through the addition of specialized experts across our business,” said Doug Hammond, chairman and CEO of NFP. “Our success adding professionals who have very focused knowledge of key markets, as well as experience helping large companies address complex risk and seize opportunities, complements our M&A activity, which yielded 16 acquisitions in 2020. We’re proud that our people-first culture is attractive and that individuals see a path for growth at NFP.”

“Competing for talent always comes with challenges, but competing for specialized talent is often even harder,” said Ginnette Quesada-Kunkel, executive vice president and chief Human Resources officer. “Specialists are in high demand so we need to create an attractive opportunity that reflects how we value culture and growth. As one of the top five best places to work in insurance, we will continue to refine our efforts with a focus on delivering the expertise, insight and capabilities our clients need to thrive.”

About NFP

NFP is a leading insurance broker and consultant providing specialized property and casualty, corporate benefits, retirement, and individual solutions through its licensed subsidiaries and affiliates. NFP enables client success through the expertise of over 5,800 global employees, investments in innovative technologies, and enduring relationships with highly rated insurers, vendors, and financial institutions. NFP is the 5th largest benefits broker by global revenue, 5th best place to work in insurance and 6th largest US-based privately owned broker (Business Insurance); 9th commercial lines agency by P&C commercial lines revenue and 10th largest property and casualty agency (Insurance Journal); and 12th largest global insurance broker (Best’s Review).

Visit NFP.com to discover how NFP empowers clients to meet their goals.

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“Bundling policies will help you save time and money”, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB)
December 21, 2020

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that explains how drivers can save car insurance money by bundling multiple policies.

For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/how-can-you-save-money-by-bundling-different-insurance-services/

One of the easiest ways for drivers to save money on car insurance is by bundling different types of policies. Bundling, also called multi-policy discount or multi-line discount, involves acquiring two or more policies from the same insurance company, for example, home insurance and car insurance.

Drivers benefit from the following advantages when they bundle multiple policies at one insurance company:

• 
  Get considerable discounts. Drivers that bundle at least three policies, can see their premium drop by 30%. Drivers that bundle only their home insurance and car insurance, will only get a 15% discount on their insurance.
• Drivers can save time. By choosing to work with one insurance company, drivers will manage to save time by not having to deal with multiple insurance agents and by paying their bills only once at the same provider.
• Drivers will work with one insurance agent. Drivers that choose to work with one insurance company, will have to deal with one insurance agent. This agent will get to know the policyholder and their insurance needs, so they can be properly advised.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

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David Wetzler

Sean Smith, President of AssuredPartners’ Western and Keenan regions, stated, “With this team, we are well-positioned to expand into new markets and attract other agencies to join us as the premier specialty insurance platform.”

LAKE MARY, Fla. (PRWEB)
December 18, 2020

AssuredPartners, Inc., is pleased to announce a new leadership team for the Specialty Region. Effective January 1, 2021, Taylor Boon and David Wetzler will be the Specialty Region Presidents reporting to Sean Smith. Under the new leadership team, AssuredPartners will continue to grow its network of specialty insurance brokers and wholesalers.

Taylor Boon joined AssuredPartners in 2018 through the acquisition of The Boon Group. As President & CEO of The Boon Group, a national employee benefits wholesaler, Boon led the firm to become a national leader in providing employee benefits, insurance products, and administrative services to government contractors and hourly employees. He is well versed in fringe benefit solutions and a subject matter expert on fringe benefits requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA), the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), and state and local living wage ordinances.

David Wetzler joined AssuredPartners in 2012 and leads the firm’s employee benefits practice, which serves more than 3,000 clients in the U.S., Canada, and U.K. Wetzler’s expertise in strategic benefits planning has helped drive significant growth in the benefits vertical. Wetzler has also been instrumental in building a robust suite of best-in-class employee benefits services supporting clients across the AssuredPartners organization.

Sean Smith, President of AssuredPartners’ Western and Keenan regions, stated, “David and Taylor bring solid carrier relationships and expertise that will drive innovation and enable our agencies to easily adapt to new and emerging risks. With this team, we are well-positioned to expand into new markets and attract other agencies to join us as the premier specialty insurance platform.”

ABOUT ASSUREDPARTNERS, INC.

Headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida and led by Jim Henderson and Tom Riley, AssuredPartners, Inc. acquires and invests in insurance brokerage businesses (property and casualty, employee benefits, surety and MGU’s) across the United States and abroad in London and Belgium. From its founding in March of 2011, AssuredPartners has grown to over $1.6 billion in annualized revenue and continues to be one of the fastest growing insurance brokerage firms in the United States with over 190 offices in 34 states and London. For more information, please visit http://www.assuredpartners.com.

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